Operation « Absolute Resolve »: Heavy Human Toll After Forceful Action Against Maduro

Caracas / Washington — Four days after the American operation dubbed « Absolute Resolve », carried out on the night of Friday, January 2 to Saturday, January 3, 2026, in Caracas, which resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the human toll remains heavy and uncertain, in the absence of official figures released by Venezuelan authorities. According to several corroborating sources cited by international media, between 70 and 80 people were reportedly killed during the airstrikes and ground clashes. An organization of doctors in Venezuela told AFP a provisional toll of approximately 70 dead and 90 injured, while an anonymous military source mentioned at least fifteen confirmed deaths. For its part, the New York Times reported 80 deaths, citing a government source. Venezuelan authorities released an official toll of 55 deaths. On Sunday, the country's main military hospital refused to provide information, citing security instructions. AFP journalists visited several hospitals in Caracas without being able to access medical data. But this Tuesday, they reported about sixty victims. Venezuelan and Cuban Losses The Cuban government announced the death of 32 Cuban nationals deployed in Venezuela at the time of the operation. According to Havana, these were members of the Cuban armed forces or the Ministry of Interior, present as part of security cooperation between the two countries. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel decreed two days of national mourning, honoring soldiers who fell « in combat » against American forces. Venezuelan media also reported the publication, by a local journalist, of a list of 18 Venezuelan military personnel belonging to the presidential security circle who were reportedly killed during the assault. Accusations of Executions and Gray Areas Venezuelan Defense Minister, General Vladimir Padrino, denounced « cold-blooded » executions, stating that some victims were allegedly shot after combat had been neutralized. He also accused American forces of hitting civilian areas during the bombings preceding the ground assault. Hospital officials confirmed the sporadic admission of wounded military personnel and civilians to several public facilities in the capital, notably at Pérez Carreño Hospital in western Caracas, where two military personnel and one civilian were reportedly treated. Military hospitals, according to medical sources, were quickly overwhelmed. No American Deaths Confirmed On the American side, authorities assert that no American soldiers were killed during the operation. A helicopter was reportedly hit by gunfire, without causing human casualties. Washington described the intervention as a military success, emphasizing the precision of the operation and the coordination between air, ground, and cyber assets. A Still Provisional Toll While Nicolas Maduro was taken by the United States, the final toll of the operation remains provisional. Human rights organizations are calling for independent investigations to shed light on civilian losses and accusations of extrajudicial executions. Internationally, while the operation is praised by some Washington allies as a blow against an authoritarian regime, it also raises serious questions about its long-term humanitarian, legal, and diplomatic consequences. Jean Wesley Pierre/ Le Relief